... to spread the cement of brotherly love and affection, that cement
which unites us into one sacred band or society of brothers, among whom no
contention should ever exist, but that noble emulation of who can best
work or best agree ...

THE CHAMBER OF REFLECTION

The tenets of Freemasonry are
universal, however, the way in which they are presented to the profane, as he
knocks on the doors of our temples, varies according to the ritual used at any
particular temple. Although the lessons presented in these rituals may be
similar, the way in which they are transmitted to the prospective initiate may
be quite different from one area to another. Therefore, in order to acquaint the
Brethren of our Grand Jurisdiction, the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons of British Columbia, with a piece of ritual widely practised throughout
the world, but absent here, I propose to expound on the Chamber of Reflection.

Most of the Brethren who received their initiations in Mexico, Central and
South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa will be acquainted with the
Chamber of Reflection. It is used in the first degree in the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite, the French Rite, the Brazilian Rite and other rites
derived from the ones just mentioned.The word chamber is an archaic term for
room and the word reflection means, according to the Oxford Dictionary of
Current English, Òreflecting or being reflected; reflected light or heat or
colour or image; discredit or thing bringing discredit; reconsideration (or
reflection); idea arising in the mind, comment (on or upon).Ó Albert G. Mackey
in his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry explains that the Chamber of
Reflection is:

...a small room adjoining the Lodge, in which, preparatory to initiation,
the candidate is enclosed for the purpose of indulging in those serious
meditations which its sombre appearance and the gloomy emblems with which it
is furnished are calculated to produce. It is also used in some of the
advanced degrees for a similar purpose

This small room or chamber, which does not necessarily adjoins the Lodge
room, is dark, with the walls painted black, or, as in one case I saw, imitating
a rocky underground cave. It contains the following: a simple rough wooden table
on which we find: a human skull, usually on two crossbones, a chunk of bread, a
pitcher with water, a cup with salt, a cup with sulphur, a lighted candle or
lantern, an hourglass, paper, ink and pen, a wooden stool or chair painted on
the wall: a rooster, a sickle, the acronym V.IT.R.I.O.L.(U.M.) and various
sayings.

Before commenting on these symbols, let us follow a candidate's journey into
the Chamber of Reflection on the day of his initiation. The profane, dressed in
a black (or at least dark) suit and tie, is brought to the Lodge building by his
sponsor. He must not meet any of the other Brethren. The Treasurer and the First
Expert, an officer, who in the rituals we observe here would be equivalent to
the Senior Steward, both dressed without any Masonic insignia, meet the
candidate. The Treasurer collects the necessary fees and returns to the Lodge
room. The Expert stays with the candidate, while the sponsor also goes into the
Lodge room. The Expert blindfolds the candidate and introduces him into the
Chamber of Reflection and gives him a piece of paper with questions that the
candidate must answer. He also indicates to the candidate that he must also
write on the paper his moral and philosophical testament. The Expert also
instructs the candidate that when he has finished this task, he should ring a
bell to manifest that he is ready to proceed with the rest of the initiation. He
is also told that once the door is closed he should remove the hoodwink. Once
our profane does that, he sees the chamber and the objects described earlier.

THE CHAMBER

The chamber reminds one's self of the caves where primitive men lived. In
psychoanalysis, it is a symbol of regression. It is also a symbol of the
maternal womb. The profane is regressing to a time of innocence and to a state
in his mother's womb. When he emerges from the chamber, it shall be as if being
born as a new man. Contrariwise, the cave can also be the symbol of a sepulchre,
as the tombs of the ancients in biblical times. Thus, the chamber indicates, at
the same time, a beginning and an end: the end of one's life as a profane, and
the beginning of a new life as an initiate in search of light, truth and wisdom.
This can also be interpreted as a form of resurrection. This motif of death and
resurrection is mentioned in Plutarch's Immortality of the Soul thus:

The soul at the moment of death, goes through the same experiences as those
who are initiated into the great mysteries.T he word and the act are similar: we
say telentai (to die) and telestai (to be initiated) .

THE SKULL

Together with the crossbones, sickle and the hourglass, the skull naturally
refers to mortality and is linked to the alchemical references also present in
the Chamber. The alchemists aimed at transmuting base metals into silver and
gold through the process of putrefaction. So must the profane transmute his
nature, through a symbolical burial in the chamber, into a new transformed man
in the form of an initiate. In alchemy this is called the great work. Indeed,
man's refinement, transmutation and transformation from a brute base metal into
gold requires great work! The skull in alchemy, named caput mortuum, is
the epitome of decline and decay. The crossbones are usually tibias, the
weight-bearing bones of the lower legs.

BREAD AND WATER

The chunk of bread and the pitch of water are symbols of simplicity, pointing
to the future initiate how he should conduct his life. Bread is made of wheat,
an element connected to the goddesses Isis and Demeter. Isis is the Egyptian
mother goddess and also the goddess of the dead, again, two of the aspects of
the Chamber of Reflection. Furthermore, according to the ancient description of
an initiation into the Mysteries of Isis by Apuleus, the candidate was placed in
a secluded cell and subsequently participated in a ceremony in which he had to
overcome trials. Demeter was celebrated at the great festival at the Temple of
Eleusis, which became known as the Eleusinian mysteries. The bread and water
represent the elements necessary to life, but even though food and the material
body are indispensable, they remind the candidate that the physical aspect
should not be the main objective in one's existence. Moreover, these elements
remind us of the biblical narrative regarding the prophet Elijah, who is also
connected with these elements and a cave (see I Kings 17: 8-11). He
established a school of prophets in a cavern on a mountain. Furthermore, Elijah
after eating bread and water, climbed the mount of G-d, in the same way that our
future initiate nourished by these symbols can withstand the trials ahead and
climb his own mountain. Elijah, once on the mount, also heard G-d as the still
small voice, just as our candidate should follow his inner voice throughout his
life, as we can read in I Kings 19: 5-13.

ALCHEMICAL ELEMENTS

Three of the alchemical elements used in the great work were sulphur, salt
and mercury, all of which are present in the Chamber of Reflection. Sulphur is
symbolical of the spirit, being a masculine principle, referring to enthusiasm
and corresponding to the virtue of Faith. Salt is a symbol for wisdom, being
considered neutral, as far as gender is concerned, referring to pondering
(something the candidate does in the Chamber of Reflection) and corresponding to
the virtue of Charity. Mercury appears as the rooster drawn on the wall of the
Chamber of Reflection. This animal is connected to the deity Hermes, that is,
Mercury. It is a feminine principle, referring to Vigilance and it also
corresponds to Faith. As the rooster sings at dawn announcing the light of day,
so it announces to our future initiate, the Light he may receive.

THE HOURGLASS

This object is a reminder of mortality. It also brings to mind that time runs
fast, just as the sand runs through the hourglass. It also conveys the meaning
that we should make good use of the time given us. Moreover, our candidate is
reminded that therefore, he should write his answers and philosophical testament
within the allotted time.

V.I.T.R.I.O.L.(U.M.)

Vitriol is a sulphuric acid or a sulphate used in the alchemical operations
of yore. This word is the origin of the adjective vitriolic, meaning caustic or
hostile, referring to speech or criticism. However, in the esoteric sense, it is
an acronym for the Latin phrase: Visita interioraterrae, rectificandoque,
invenies occultum lapidem, which means: "visit the interior of the earth, and
rectifying it, you will find the hidden stone." Some times this acronym appears
with the addition of U.M. at the end, which means, veram medicinam, the true
medicine. If one takes this advice metaphorically, the meaning conveyed is that,
one must search within oneself, as the truth is hidden there, and this truth is
the real solution to our problems. Again, a very appropriate acronym to be
placed on the wall before the future initiate, while he has to write his
philosophical testament.

PERSEVERANCE AND VIGILANCE

In some rites these two words are also placed on the wall. The word
perseverance is placed under the hourglass, if one is not physically present but
painted on the wall, while the word vigilance is placed under the figure of the
rooster. These two words intimate to the candidate that he must possess these
qualities in order to succeed in his Masonic life. The symbols, allusions,
allegories and metaphors of the rituals are not plain. The Freemason must
scrutinise them persistently in order to appreciate their richness and deep
significance, and be vigilant that the lessons learned therefrom be not
forgotten.

VARIOUS SAYINGS

Besides the profusion of symbols in the Chamber of Reflection, as our
candidate removes the hoodwink, he will read various sentences on the wall. Most
often he will read the following sayings: If you think we will find out your
defects, you will feel uncomfortable among us. If curiosity spurred you towards
us, go away. If you are capable of deception, tremble, you will be found out. If
you take notice of human differences, leave, we do not know them here. If your
soul is fearful, do not proceed! If you persevere, you will be purified, you
will overcome darkness, you will be enlightened.

In some rites, such as the Brazilian Rite, other sentences may be found on
the wall, such as: Think of G-d, with humility. If you want to live well, think
of death. Serve your country with devotion. Remember the great citizens who were
Freemasons. Know thyself. If your heart is well intentioned, go on and you will
have our support.

QUESTIONS

As mentioned earlier, our candidate was given a piece of paper with
questions, which he must answer in order to proceed with the initiation.

PHILOSOPHICAL TESTAMENT

The answers to the questions asked of the candidate become the initial point
towards the elaboration of his philosophical and moral testament. The
philosophical testament provides a glimpse of the attitude and character of the
future initiate and is unique to each individual. The candidate's true nature
will be shown in his answers to the proposed questions as well as in his
philosophical testament. On the other hand, it can also bring him discredit,
depending on his answers. In the Chamber of Reflection, he has time to
reconsider his request for admission in our Fraternity. If his motives are not
pure as admonished by the writings on the wall, or if he is fearful and not
courageous enough, then he might not be able to keep inviolate the secrets of
Freemasonry. Furthermore, solitary in the Chamber of Reflection, our prospective
initiate can ponder on thequestions presented to him, on his life, and future.
Therefore, the reflection to which the title of this Chamber refers, is not just
the pondering of the candidate, but primarily the reflection of his own inner
being. This could bring him discredit in certain cases. Note that all the
dictionary meanings of the word reflection invoked at the beginning of this
exposition are represented in the Chamber and obey the same hierarchical order.

THE MIRROR

In another ritual of French origin, the Rectified Scottish Rite, during the
first degree initiation, the concept of reflection expressed in the sense of
giving back a likeness as in a mirror, is revealed in another way. At the moment
the hoodwink is dropped from the candidate’s eyes and he sees for the first time
the faces of his Brethren around him, the WM says: "It is not always before
oneself, that one finds his enemies. That which is to be feared the most is many
times behind oneself. Turn around!" When the candidate turns he sees himself in
a mirror! This means that the enemy can be also within! Incidentally, the word
mirror is in Latin speculum, deriving from the verb speculor, which means, to
scrutinise. That is exactly what one does in the Chamber of Reflections, as he
scrutinises himself and the symbols around him.

THE BRAZILIAN RITE

In the Brazilian Rite, the candidate in the Chamber of Reflection also
receives another piece of paper that he must read. In it are found articles I
and II of the Constitution of the jurisdiction, dealing with Freemasonry and its
Principles. Moreover, he must also sign a declaration.

TRIALS

After the candidate leaves the Chamber of Reflection, he is conducted into
the Temple to be subjected to certain trials. Traditionally, the ancients and
the alchemists believed that the universe was composed of four elements: earth,
air, fire and water. Traditional initiatory societies,such as Freemasonry, have
preserved this teaching. Furthermore, one of the marks of these esoteric
initiatory organisations was a series of trials through which the candidate was
subjected. The Chamber of Reflection, being a cave, becomes then, the first
trial, that of the earth, and it is followed later by other trials, as it is
made plain by the words of the ritual itself in the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite.

THE MAGIC FLUTE

As you can notice, Brethren, the rituals performed in the first degree in our
Grand Jurisdiction are not similar to the ones I have been describing. To a
Freemason only acquainted with the local rituals, the opera The Magic Flute
by our Brother, W.A. Mozart is not as clearly intelligible as to those who have
received their initiation in a Continental European rite or one derived from it.
That opera was first performed at the Theater auf Der Wieden in Vienna on
September 30, 1791 and it is in a certain way a re-enactment of a first-degree
initiation with all its alchemical and Masonic allusions. The protagonists,
Tamimo and Pamima are left alone in the darkness and required to keep a vow of
silence. A scene at a vault, and tests of fire and water follows this.

CONCLUSION

Even without going beyond the scope of this exposition, and presenting the
rest of the first degree ritual as performed in most countries of the world, you
can imagine what an impression this initial part of the ritual makes on a
candidate being ushered into our honourable institution. The Chamber of
Reflection teaches, indeed, powerful lessons. True initiation is an individual
internal process. Nobody can transform a man but himself. Others may guide and
help, but ultimately, the individual alone is the only one who can perform the
great work. The Chamber of Reflection truly epitomises this process. It is my
hope, that those of us, who have not experienced this ritual in our Masonic
life, have at least derived some small benefit, although vicariously, from this
allocution today.

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